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BumRushDaShow

(127,270 posts)
Mon Apr 16, 2018, 11:20 AM Apr 2018

Scott Pruitt's $43,000 soundproof phone booth violated spending laws, federal watchdog finds

Last edited Mon Apr 16, 2018, 12:03 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: Washington Post

The $43,000 soundproof phone booth that Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt had installed in his office last year violated federal spending laws, the Government Accountability Office said Monday.

In an eight-page letter to lawmakers, GAO general counsel Thomas H. Armstrong said the agency failed to notify lawmakers that it was exceeding the $5,000 limit for agency heads to furnish, redecorate or otherwise make improvements to their offices. In addition, Armstrong wrote, the agency also violated the federal Antideficiency Act, because EPA obligated appropriated funds in a manner specifically prohibited by law.

The EPA had argued that the $24,000 customized phone booth which required another $18,000 in painting, concrete and electrical work to reconfigure the small closet area where it was placed was not part of a redecoration of Pruitts office and shouldnt be subject to the $5,000 cap.

While the agency maintains other areas in its building where officials can place secure calls, and while none of Pruitt's predecessors have had such a setup, the agency argued that the privacy booth allows Pruitt to make and receive calls to discuss sensitive information (up to the top secret level) for the purpose of conducting agency business. It also argued that the booth was analogous to other functional items an employee might require to perform his job duties such as a high speed computer, high speed copier/scanner, or television.


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/04/16/scott-pruitts-43000-soundproof-phone-booth-violated-spending-laws-federal-watchdog-finds/?utm_term=.38d391faef3f



Full original title and article -

Cost of EPA chief Scott Pruitts secure phone booth violated law limiting such expenses to $5,000 without prior approval, GAO says

by Washington Post Staff April 16 at 11:18 AM

The Environmental Protection Agency administrator installed a $43,000 soundproof phone booth at agency headquarters last fall.

An investigation by the Government Accountability Office found that the installation violated the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Act, which prohibits an agency from paying more than $5,000 to redecorate or furnish a presidential appointees office without approval.

This is a developing story. It will be updated
.

18 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Scott Pruitt's $43,000 soundproof phone booth violated spending laws, federal watchdog finds (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Apr 2018 OP
Will they True Blue American Apr 2018 #1
Whoever signed off on that BumRushDaShow Apr 2018 #2
Why does he still have a job? BigmanPigman Apr 2018 #3
Because He Annoys the "Right" Kind of People modrepub Apr 2018 #6
trump promoting corruption duforsure Apr 2018 #4
Would've been cheaper to go with the Cone of Silence instead geomon666 Apr 2018 #5
And that was the "portable" model. BumRushDaShow Apr 2018 #7
WHAT? HOW MUCH DOES THIS THING COST? WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR LiberalLovinLug Apr 2018 #9
... BumRushDaShow Apr 2018 #12
lol LiberalLovinLug Apr 2018 #16
Fly in and write a check Scott. Sneederbunk Apr 2018 #8
Id like to see a picture of the booth. Owl Apr 2018 #10
Here's the kicker... DeminPennswoods Apr 2018 #11
It was probably considered "obsolete". BumRushDaShow Apr 2018 #13
SCIFs are all the same DeminPennswoods Apr 2018 #14
Only if you are not BumRushDaShow Apr 2018 #15
Bet trump triples down and says what a great guy Pruitt is. riversedge Apr 2018 #17
Makes my blood boil. Akacia Apr 2018 #18

BigmanPigman

(51,430 posts)
3. Why does he still have a job?
Mon Apr 16, 2018, 11:34 AM
Apr 2018

Oh yeah, he is destroying the environment and selling American products that do so to other countries for a hefty profit. I remember now.

modrepub

(3,467 posts)
6. Because He Annoys the "Right" Kind of People
Mon Apr 16, 2018, 12:09 PM
Apr 2018

in Trump's eye. Doing the "right" thing means implementing industry inspired roll backs, tying up enforcement actions and generally pissing off "liberals".

duforsure

(11,882 posts)
4. trump promoting corruption
Mon Apr 16, 2018, 11:38 AM
Apr 2018

by allowing him to remain in any government position. trump doing this with others by allowing them to live lavishly off of their positions from the pockets of the American people's pockets to theirs. Corruption running wild and trump saying to the American people F. U. .

DeminPennswoods

(15,246 posts)
11. Here's the kicker...
Mon Apr 16, 2018, 06:13 PM
Apr 2018

Christine Todd Whitman was on one of the MSNBC shows a few weeks ago talking about the EPA. She was asked about this soundproof, secure space Pruitt had installed. She said there was no need for it because the EPA already had a secure room elsewhere in the building for any discussions that required it!

Akacia

(582 posts)
18. Makes my blood boil.
Mon Apr 16, 2018, 08:00 PM
Apr 2018

Mostly because there are teachers in this Country using their own funds to buy school supplies for the kiddos. Then you have a jerk like this.......

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